Railway snubbing device



June 22, 1937. E GO DW N 2,084,637

RAILWAY SNUBBING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

E. G. G 0 0 D W/N June 22, 1937. E GOODWIN 2,084,637

RAILWAY SNUBBING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG. /6 I 23fie.7 ficJa F x //7&

FIG. 8

INVENTOR E. 6? WIN BY ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937' UNITED STATESRAILWAY SNUBBING DEVICE Ernest G. Goodwin, Pelham, N. Y., assignor toGraham-White Sander Corporation, Roanoke, Va., a corporation of vk'giniaApplication April 2, 1934, Serial No. 718,700

27 Claims.

This invention relates to railway snubbers and has for its primarypurpose the provision of a simple and efficient snubber'that can beapplied to present day equipment or car trucks without alteration ofeither the bolster, frame, or the spring plank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway snubber havinglarge friction areas with low unit pressure. A still further andimportant feature of the present invention is theprovision of astabilizer or snubbing device in which there is no wear on the snubberuntil the bolster and side frame have moved with respect to each otherto such an extent that snubbing is desirable. In this manner. the lifeof the snubber is materially lengthened and its ridingqualities improvedsince there is no frictional wear on the snubber during normalvibrations of the springs.

1 further object of the invention is the ptovision of a snubber havingtwo degrees of snubbing action, creating friction between two surfacesduring the first period of travel of the snubber units and doubling thefriction after a predetermined movement. A still further object of theinvention is to provide a snubber permitting lateral and torsionalmovement of the bolster with reference to the side frames and springplank.

The railways are appreciating fully the desirability of snubbing carspring action and a number of efficient stabilizing devices areavailable to the market except for the fact that some of these devicesrequire replacing of equipment or are in one way or another veryexpensive which in the 5 present depression makes their use almost pro-.hibitive. The problem at the present time is to provide snubbing withoutsacrifice of existing equipment in perfect condition. To this end is thepresent invention directed although it is also readily applicable to newcars with standard parts. The simplicity of the present device lendsitself readily tense in substantially any existing car and the pieces ofthe present device may be obtained at low cost of high grade materialsince no machining is required and the friction surfaces of the fourmajor elements are used exactly as purchased. f p In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the stabilizer lookinglongitudinally of the car andshowing the spring plank, bolster andthe'two near springs in cross section.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the lines 2-2.

of Figure 1 .Figures 4 and 4* are views of a friction plate.

1.; Figures 5 and 5 are views of a spring-friction plate.

Figures 6 and 6 are views of a plate retainer.

Figures 7 and 7 are views of a spring washer.

, Figure 8 shows a modified form of the snubbing device in combinationwith a common lateral motion device;

The bolster I0 is supported on the side frame I l by a nest of springscentered about bosses such as It projecting upwardly or downwardly fromthe spring plates I5 and. IS, the latter engaging the bolster while theformer rests upon the usual 15 spring plank H. In the present inventionthe bolster Hi, the side frame II and the spring plank ll are notaltered but I prefer to modify the spring plates l5 and I6 as will laterbe described.

Positioned inward of the nest of springs on 20 each truck, but notnecessarily so, is-a lower friction plate 20 engaging identical upperfriction plate 21. These two friction plates are held resiliently incontact with each other by means of spring friction plates 23 and 24preferablyddenti- 25 cal and exerting pressure against the two frictionplates thruou't their entire area of contact.

The connection between the friction plates 20 and 2| and the retainingdevices on the bolster and the spring plank respectively, is a loose one30 in order that either or preferably both of these members can movean-appreciable distance without causing the two friction plates to rubagainst each other. In this manner the springs may expand and compressthru small. distances without 35 any snubbing effect whatsoever andconsequently without any rubbing or wear on the two friction plates. Theconnection is preferably-sufliciently loose to permit the bolster tohave as much freee dom of motion for small disturbances as if the 40snubber were absent, that is, the bolster not only may have freedom ofmotion in a horizontal plane but also may freely turn a certain amountabout its own longitudinal axis without operatively disturbing thefriction plates or it may turn a cer- 5 tain amount about its transverseaxis without bringing the snubber into play. The torsional movement,will be termed an angling movement when referring to such movement ofthe bolster with respect to the plates and the same term will 50 be usedto indicate the slight rotating movement of the plates in their ownplanes about either the bolster or spring-plank. The connection ishinge-like in that it permits limited pivotal movement of the platesabout the axis of the 55 V within, but not necessarily centrally of, thespring boss, such construction interfering in no manner with thepositioning of the springs of the nest. The casting 25 has an insideinturned flange 28 and an inwardly positioned proximate angular flange29 providing a lengthwise slot 30 in which is received the outwardlyturned lip 3| of the upper friction plate 2| or the outwardly turnedsimilar lip 32 of the lower friction plate 20.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be noted that the slot 30 is open atone end such as 33 and is closed at the other end as at 34, the openends of the two spring plates being on opposite sides, for example, inthis figure the open end in the top spring plate is at the right whilethe open end in the bottom spring plate is at the left, thus insuringagainst excess lateral displacement of the snubbing assembly.

The spring friction plates 23 and 24 each have a plurality of rightangularly bent fingers such as 35 and 36here indicated as three on oneend of each plate and two on the other, these fingers being spaced withrespect to each other when assembled as indicated by the numeral 3'!as'to allow an appreciable amount of relative movement in an up and downdirection.

Each of the two side plates has a rectangular opening in each sidenumbered 38 and 39 respectively, which are not in registry but areoffset with each other providing a bay into which projects the lug 40 ofthe retaining plate 4! which is considerably thicker than either of thefriction plates but is thinner than both together as can best be seen inFigure 3. The two spring friction plates are secured together with theretaining member 4! between them by, means of a bolt 43, its castle nut44 held in place by the pin 45 and by spring washers 46 preferably ofconsiderable strength but the connection is a' yielding one andinaddition the diameter of the bolt stem is appreciably less than theholes thru which it passes so as to provide clearance in order that thetwo spring friction plates may move with respect to each other. The lug40 passing into the bay formed by the two recesses 38 and 39 limitsrelative movement of the friction plates with respect to the enca ingspring friction plates which, as will be note d from Figure '7, are ofbowed form when free in order that the pressure exerted by bolting thetwo plates together shall be exerted overthe entire frictional area, thenuts 44 being turned to such a degree as best to accomplish thispurpose.

In practice I find'it advisable to build the rib 5| in the form shown inFigure 3 following close to the lines of the outer springs and I alsoprovide marginal ribs 52 to cooperate with the central rib 5| tostrengthen and support the upstanding portion 50 of the angular flange29 so as to avoid danger of breaking this flange.

In operation the bolster moves up and down without causing any movementof the snubbing assembly until such time as the free movement reachesthe chosen limit. At such time the inturned ends engage the car springplate and the two plates 20 and 2| engage each other with frictionalsliding contact but without sliding against the spring friction plates23 and 24, friction plate 20 and spring friction plate 23 also frictionplate 2| and spring friction plate 24 moving as of the plates l5 and 23is in the @rm of a common type used to provide two units. When however,the amount oi. movement of the bolster is greater than necessary to takeup the clearance between the spring friction plates the interlockingfingers 35 and 36 E are engaged and any further movement of the bolstercauses friction not only between the two friction plates but alsobetween one or the other or both of the friction plates and theproximate spring friction plate. As the bolster moves in the oppositedirection the snubbing action is first between the friction plates andthen all the plates as before. Since an active snubber is not onlyunnecessary but actually harmful at noncritical car speeds it isdesirable to provide a snubber that functions only during criticalspeeds or where the passing of rail joints and the period of verticalspring oscillation are the same time intervals. This form of snubberthus has two advantages over the continuous type, better riding atnon-critical speeds and the elimination of snubber wear,- the latter ofconsiderable importance for dry friction surfaces especially since ahigh percentage of unnecessary movement is prevented.

In Figure 8 I sho'wa modified form of means for connecting the frictionplates to the spring seats or platesl5 and Hi The plate 2!! is providedwith hook-like members for engaging similar members on the spring seatiii which are raised from the plank l1 appreciably to provide for thevertical play of the plate 23 one or-two lugslti may be provided on thespring plate l5 to prevent lateral relative displacement lateral motionfor the bolster.

It is apparent that means other than the spring seats may be used toconnect the friction plates to the bolster and to theplank and theclaims are intended to cover broadly any expedient for making thisconnection.

In some of the claims Irefer to the snubber as consisting of telescopiclinks which terminology is believed to be quite apt since each plate ineffect consists of a link which telescopes into the link composed of theopposite friction plate and the spring plates.

What I claim is:

1. An assembly for use in a snubber, comprising a pair of frictionplates having surface contact and a pair of spring holding platesconnected to move together and receiving between them the twofrictionplates, retaining means loosely interlocking the four plates sothat as the two. friction plates are moved, with respect to each other,the frictional sliding engagement will be between the friction platesonly for a chosen amount and this will be followed, upon additionalmovement ofthe friction plates, by frictional sliding engagement betweenthe two plates and one or both of the spring steel plates.

2. A one-piece spring plate with flanges characterized by having anundercut groove along one gdge for non-rigidity attaching aspring snub-3. An article of manufacture comprising a spring plate for snubbers andlateral motion devices and having grooves on one surface for The springseat l6 truck comprising a plate having a plurality of ribs and flangeson one side for engaging a plurality of springs and a thickened portionextending substantially across the plate, said portion having anundercut groove therein for receivin a snubbing device.

truck comprising 'a plate having on one side retaining means for coilsprings, an upright flange extending substantially across the plate anda second flange T-shaped in cross section adjacent said flange andcooperating therewith to form an undercutgroove for receiving aconnecting device, said spring retaining means including a plurality ofspring engaging ribs integral with one of said flanges to strengthen theplate at the grooved portion.

6. The device of claim 4 in which said groove is open at one end andmeans are provided on the plate for preventing the snubbing device fromslipping thru the groove and out the other end.

'7. The device of claim 5 in which said groove is closed at one end.

8. In a railway car truck having a spring plank portion of the springs,similar means engaging the plank for retaining the lower portion of saidsprings, and flanged telescopic links connecting said means, both ofsaid means having undercut grooves for loosely receiving and-retainingthe flanged ends of said links.

- the open end of the groove in the second mentioned means whereby theflanged ends of the links are prevented from working out of the grooves.

10. A non-load-carrying snubbing device for railway cars having sprungand unsprung parts, said device comprising a pair of friction platemembers having engaging vertical surfaces, one of said members having aloose connection with the sprung part and the other member having asimilar connection with the unsprung part and spring means for holdingsaid members in frictional engagement, said connections having playbetween the engaging parts whereby to permit a hinging action and topermit free angling movement of the sprung part with respect to thesnubblng device and to permit f ther free movement of the sprung partand t snubbing device with respect to the unsprung part.

11. A non-load-car ylng snubbing unit for railway cars adapted to beinserted between the bolster and spring plank, said unit comprisingcertain amount offree non-snubbed universal movement of the bolster withrespect to the truck, said cap members and friction members being freelydisconnectable when disassociated from a-truck. I

12. The device of claim 11 in which said connecting means includesundercut grooves in certain of said members, and includes means on thecooperating members for loosely engaging in said grooves.

13. The device of claim 11 in which said connecting means includesgrooves in said cap members and beaded or flanged edges on said frictionmembers loosely engaging in said grooves. 5. A spring cap for a nest ofsprings in a car 14. A spring cap comprising two overlapping parts oneof cast metal and one of pressed metal, bosses on said cap for engagingand retaining springs and means within certain of the bosses forsecuring the cast portion to the ressed portion, one of said portionshaving a groove therein of substantially L-shape in cross section forloosely receiving the flanged edge of a snubbing plate.

15. A one-piece spring seat for car trucks comprising a plate havingspring retaining means on one side and having on the same side anundercut' groove for non-rigidly attaching a spring snubbing plate.

16. A spring cap for a nest of springs in a car truck comprising a platehaving means on one side for centering and retaining a plurality ofsprings and having on the same side an elongated undercut groove forreceiving the flanged "edge of a snubbing plate, said groove adapted tobe parallel with the planes of the car truck wheels when the cap is inoperative position.

17. An assembly for use in asnubber for railway car trucks having abolster member and a spring plank member comprising an even number offriction plates adapted to be loosely suspended vertically between saidmembers, means including an even number of spring plates for.

holding said friction plates in snubbing engagement with each other,each of said spring plates engaging one of said friction plates, saidspring plates in their normal disassembled condition having a surfacecurvature different from that of the friction plates, and said meansincluding a bolt for drawing the spring plates into substantially thesame shape as the friction plates whereby the area of contact is amaximum, half of said friction plates adapted to be connected with oneof said members and theother half of said friction plates adapted to beconnected to the other member, said holding meanse-connecting saidspring plates to move together whereby relative movement of the frictionplates causes movement of the spring plates with respect'to the frictionplates.

18. The combination with a side frame and a bolster resilientlysupported thereon by spring means, of a spring seat on the side frame, afriction link member loosely carried by said seat and having aninterlocking tongue and groove connection therewith, a spring seat onthe bolster and a friction link member carried by said bolster springseat and having a loose interlocking tongue and groove connectiontherewith, said link members having a frictional telescopic engagement.

19. In a car truck having a side frame and a bolsterresilientlysupported thereon by spring movement of the snubber plateswith respect to the retaining devices and means on the side framepreventing disconnection of the snubbing plates from the retainingdevices.

20. In a car truck having a side frame and a bolster resilientlysupported thereon by spring means, the combination of a snubberretaining device carried by theside frame, a second snubber retainingdevice adapted to move with the bolster as the .spring means contractand expand, two frictionally engaged friction plates respectivelyconnected to said retaining devices, and means including a plate ofspring steel for resiliently maintaining said frictional engagement,said connections between the retaining devices and friction plates beingloose to permit angling and delayed movement of the snubber plates withrespect to the retaining devices, and said steel plate beingfrictionally engaged by one of said friction plates. 4

21. In a car truck having a side frame and a. bolster resilientlysupported thereon by spring means, the combination of a. snubberretaining device carried by the side frame, a second snubber retainingdevice adapted to move with the bolster as the spring means contract andexpand, two frictionally engaged friction plates respectively connectedto said retaining devices and means including a plate of spring steelfor resiliently maintaining said frictional engagement, said connectionsbetween the retaining devices and friction plates being loose to permitangling and delayed movement of the snubber plates with respect to theretaining devices, and said steel plate before assembly with thefriction plates being normally bowed.

22. in a car truck having a side frame and a bolster resilientlysupported thereon by spring means, the combination of a snubberretaining device carried by the side frame, a second snubber retainingdevice adapted to move with the bolster as the spring means contract andexpanel, two frictionally engaged friction plates respectively connectedto said retaining devices and means including two loosely interlockedplates ofspring steel held sprung out of their normal shape and intofrictional contact with the respective friction plates for resilientlymaintaining said frictional engagement.

23. In a car truck having a side frame and a bolster resilientlysupported thereon by spring means, the combination of a snubberretaining device carried by the side frame, a second snubber retainingdevice adapted to move with the bolster as the spring means contract andexpand, two frictionally engaged friction plates respectively connectedto said retaining devices, two

interlocked plates of spring steel respectively engaging said frictionplates, the disassembled shape of said steel plates being difierent fromthat of spring holding plates may move a limited amount with respect toeach other.

25. The combination with a car truck having sprung and unsprung partsand springs supporting the sprung part on the unsprung part, of frictionsnubbing means for damping the movement of the sprung part only afterthe springs have been compressed or expanded a chosen distance whilepermitting free undamped movement of the sprung part in a horizontalplane, said' means consisting of a pair of frictionally engagingtelescopic links loosely connected to said parts whereby having limitedfreedom of motion horizontally and vertically with respect to the parts,and means on the unsprung part acting to maintain said connections.

26. A snubber assembly comprising a pair of relativelymovablecooperating friction plates, a pair of spaced spring platesreceiving between them said friction plates and each having a frictionsurface which when the snubber is disassembled is different from that ofthe surface on the proximate friction plate, and means springing saidspring plates to bring the unlike surfaces into contact substantiallyover their entire proximate surfaces, said means causing said springpl'tes to move as a unit and with respect to eitl of said frictionplates during the relative movement of the friction plates, and means oneach friction plate for supporting the assembly.

27. The device of claim 26 in which said spring plates in theirdisassembled state are substan tially cylindrical, said friction platesare sub-- stantialiy fiat and said means comprise bolts for drawing saidspring plates against the friction plates thruout their proximate areaswhereby the pressure between the friction plates is approximately thesame over all the contact area.

nanssr o. Goonwm.

